[2025 Chengdu Attraction] Travel Guide for Jinhua Temple (Updated Mar)

Jinhua Temple in spring is gently covered by a silent "snow" - hundreds of magnolia trees are in full bloom, with pink and white petals like clouds and snow, adorning the branches. The white magnolia, as bright as the moon, complements the yellow walls and green tiles of the ancient temple. "One magnolia tree, enjoy the spring of the world", this scene, is the most beautiful spring news in the world. 📍Chengdu • Jinhua Temple (Free) 🚇Line 3 Jinhua East Road (Subway Station), 1.2 km walk or 10 min bike ride after exiting the station 🍚The temple provides vegetarian meals at noon (10r/person)

Located in Tianhui Town, Jinniu District, Jinhua Temple is where the emperor turned back. According to historical records, in November of the fourteenth year of Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty (755 AD), An Lushan, the military governor of Fanyang, launched a rebellion, and the rebel army quickly captured the capital Chang'an. In the midst of the chaos, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, along with the Yang siblings and others, quietly left the palace under the protection of the imperial guards. After discussion, they decided to go to Chengdu. When the troops passed through Maweipo, the soldiers mutinied, killed Yang Guozhong, and forced Yang Yuhuan, the imperial concubine, to commit suicide. Emperor Xuanzong was filled with grief and indignation, but there was nothing he could do. The army continued to march, traveling a long distance from Shaanxi along the Jinniu Road, and finally approached Chengdu. When they arrived at Tianhui Town, the "first major town north of Chengdu," the troops were exhausted from their continuous journey. They stopped to rest before entering Chengdu, the land of abundance, far from the flames of war. At this moment, an urgent message arrived from Chang'an, reporting that An Lushan's rebellion had been quelled. Overjoyed, Emperor Xuanzong immediately led his troops back to the capital. The line "The world spun, the dragon carriage turned back" in Bai Juyi's "Song of Everlasting Regret" refers to this event. Since then, people have changed the name of "Tianhui Mountain" to "Tianhui Mountain" (where the emperor turned back), and the town below the mountain was also named "Tianhui Town." Legend has it that Emperor Xuanzong's stopping point in Tianhui Town while escaping the An Lushan Rebellion was Jinhua Temple, so the temple's sense of history is palpable. Built in the Tang Dynasty, Jinhua Temple is little known even to locals! There are no noisy tourists here, only red walls and gray tiles, an ancient opera stage, and the chanting of monks. The Qing Dynasty murals beside the main hall vividly depict the scene of Emperor Tang meeting Xuanzang. Civil officials are bent over their desks, and palace maids lower their eyes—a detail lover's dream! You can appreciate it up close and experience the centuries-old brushstrokes firsthand. The temple's opera stage and mountain gate are integrated, and the wood carvings above are exquisite. Jinhua Temple's "Yue Lou" (Music Pavilion) is a classic work from the nineteenth year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1839). It cost 1,477 taels of silver to build and is considered the pinnacle of western Sichuan opera stages! A living fossil of Sichuan opera! Eighteen stone pillars support the "convex" shaped stage, which can be viewed from three sides. It is integrated with the mountain gate and still retains the plaque "Observe the Present, Reflect on the Past." Its axis layout, directly facing the Guanyin Hall, is solemn and respectful. Remnants of inscriptions from Qing Dynasty opera troupes, such as "Dashun Ban" and "Chuan Nan Dashun Ban," remain on the stage pillars. They performed classic Sichuan operas like "Jin Chuan Zhu" and "Hei Shui Fen Zhou," witnessing the nomadic years of performers who slept on the stage. The temple is small and very quiet. The temple masters are very welcoming, guiding visitors who come to admire the magnolia flowers and explaining the temple's stories. They have a certain "sweeping monk" demeanor, exuding a Zen-like air between the secular and the spiritual.

🎬Filming time: Mar 16 🎫Tickets: Free 📍Location: Jinhua Temple, Huitian Town, Xindu District 🚗Self-driving: Navigate to Jinhua Temple, Chengdu. It's about a 1-hour drive from the city center via the Chengpeng Expressway or Beixing Avenue. 🚇Subway: Take Subway Line 3 to Zhonglou Station, then transfer to bus X45 and get off at Jinhua Temple Station. Temple opening hours: 8:00 am–5:00 pm Jinhua Temple is a Buddhist temple with a long history, originally built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, making it over a thousand years old. The temple preserves stone tablets from the Ming Dynasty and Buddha statues from the Qing Dynasty. In the courtyard, there are ancient cypress trees that are hundreds of years old, and two centuries-old magnolia trees in the front and back courtyards. Please be quiet if you want to take photos of the magnolias.🤫 The temple is a place for meditation, so please don't make loud noises.

| A quaint and serene temple in Chengdu.🍄 Jinhua Temple in Chengdu was established in the 42nd year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, located within Jinhua Village, Tianhui Town, Jinniu District, Chengdu, and now covers more than 11 acres. With a long history, historical records indicate that Jinhua Temple was destroyed during the military conflicts at the end of the Ming Dynasty. During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the monk San E initiated the reconstruction. His disciple Zeng Ming continued his master's will, raised funds through alms, and began the construction of the Mahavira Hall in the winter of the 42nd year of Qianlong (1778), followed by the construction of the front hall (now the Guanyin Hall), the rear hall (now the Damo Hall), the music platform (replacing the mountain gate), wing rooms, and monk's quarters. The temple houses several precious Qing Dynasty murals that are worth appreciating. Especially notable is the music platform, supported by eighteen stone pillars, grand in spirit, beautiful in design, and unique in style. In 1997, it was approved by the Jinniu District Government of Chengdu to become an open temple. Jinhua Temple currently has nine resident monks, has established a management organization according to Buddhist temple traditions, with comprehensive systems and orderly management; the monks are of pure practice and deeply trusted by the faithful, enjoying a thriving incense offering. 🌻Special Highlights: 🍭The mountain gate of Jinhua Temple is integrated with the opera stage, supported by eighteen stone pillars, with a unique and majestic presence. Two couplets carved on it are full of philosophy and thought-provoking: Playing with falsehoods, let them perform, it's all about promoting purity and stirring up the turbid Changing palaces and feathers, listen for yourself, it's all about teaching the foolish and transforming the wise To know the world, look upon the viewing platform; not recognizing the people of today, one looks at the ancients 🍭Jinhua Temple also preserves many precious Qing Dynasty murals, adding much color to the temple. 🍭The temple is nestled between the city's ring expressway, the freight avenue, and the Baocheng Railway. Outside the temple, the world is bustling and bustling, but inside it is a peaceful and elegant retreat. 🍭For 10 yuan, you can receive two pairs of incense and candles at the entrance (voluntary). 🍭The temple offers vegetarian meals at a reasonable price. 📍Address: No. 801, Group 5, Jinhua Village, Tianhui Town, Chengdu 🚇Subway: Line 3, Jinhua Temple East Road Exit C, navigate a 1-kilometer walk to reach 🈺️Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 🎫Admission: Free